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Senedd Cymru (Member Accountability and Elections) Bill

Welsh Parliament (Senedd) Legislation

Published March 17th, 2026

Detected March 20th, 2026

Summary

The Senedd Cymru (Member Accountability and Elections) Bill has passed its final stage in the Welsh Parliament. The Bill introduces measures to enhance the accountability of Members of the Senedd to their constituents, including a recall mechanism and a strengthened standards process. It also places a duty on Welsh Ministers to prohibit false statements of fact in elections.

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What changed

The Senedd Cymru (Member Accountability and Elections) Bill has passed Stage 4 in the Welsh Parliament, indicating it is moving towards enactment. Key provisions include establishing a mechanism for recalling elected Members of the Senedd based on voter will, creating a mandatory Standards of Conduct Committee with lay members for increased independence, and empowering the Commissioner for Standards to proactively investigate conduct concerns. Additionally, the Bill mandates Welsh Ministers to prohibit the making or publishing of false statements of fact during elections, responding to recommendations on deliberate deception.

This development signifies a significant shift in the accountability and conduct framework for Welsh Parliament members. Compliance officers should note the introduction of a recall mechanism and enhanced standards processes, which may require updates to internal governance and ethical guidelines. While specific compliance deadlines are not yet detailed, the Bill's passage suggests that regulated entities and individuals within the Welsh political sphere should prepare for new requirements concerning member conduct and election integrity. The potential for referral to the Supreme Court or prohibition of Royal Assent remains during a four-week post-Stage 4 period.

What to do next

Review the Explanatory Memorandum for detailed provisions on member accountability and election conduct.
Assess internal governance policies for alignment with enhanced standards and recall mechanisms.
Monitor for any referrals to the Supreme Court or prohibition orders during the post-Stage 4 period.

Source document (simplified)

Senedd Cymru (Member Accountability and Elections) Bill

A Welsh Government Bill, introduced by Julie James MS, Counsel General and Minister
for Delivery. The Business Committee has remitted the Bill to the Member Accountability Bill Committee for Stage 1 and 2 scrutiny.

About the Bill

The Bill includes provision for:

Enhancing
the accountability of Members of the Senedd to the electorate, providing a
mechanism to recall an elected Member, removing them from office during their
term on the basis of the expressed will of voters in the relevant constituency.

Strengthening
the Senedd’s standards process as considered by the Standards of Conduct
Committee, including:

>>*

***Establishing a
mandatory Standards of Conduct Committee;

***Introducing an
element of independence and expertise for that committee through the
appointment of lay members; and

***Providing more
flexibility to the Commissioner for Standards to proactively consider concerns
regarding the conduct of Members of the Senedd.

<<<*

Placing
a duty upon the Welsh Ministers to make provision prohibiting the making or
publishing of false statements of fact. This is in response to the
recommendations of the Standards of Conduct Committee's report into deliberate
deception.

<<<

Further detail about
the Bill can be found in its ac companying Explanatory
Memorandum.

Senedd Research, Article - New
Bill seeks to strengthen accountability of Members and tackle election
misinformation.

Current Stage

BillStagePost4

The Bill is currently at Post Stage 4. An explanation of the
various stages of Senedd Bills is available in the Guide
to the Stages of Public Bills and Acts.

Record of Passage in
the Welsh Parliament

The following table sets out the dates for each stage of the
Bill’s passage through the Senedd.

¬¬¬Post Stage 4 (Current)

The Bill is now in the four week period 17 March – 14 April
2026 during which, the Counsel General or the Attorney General may refer the
question whether the Bill, or any provision of the Bill, would be within the
Assembly’s legislative competence to the Supreme Court for decision (section
112 of the Government of Wales Act). Similarly, the Secretary of State for
Wales may make an order prohibiting the Presiding Officer from submitting the
Bill for Royal Assent. An explanation of this stage can be found in the Guide
to the Legislative Process – Stage 4.

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¬¬¬Stage 4 (17 March 2026)

The Senedd Cymru (Member Accountability and Elections) Bill
was passed by the Senedd on 17
March 2026.

Presiding
Officer’s Statement in accordance with section 111A(3) of the Government of
Wales Act 2006: Senedd Cymru (Member Accountability and Elections) Bill (PDF 164KB)

zzz

¬¬¬Stage 3 (13 February 2026 – 17 March 2026)

Stage 3 began on 13 February 2026.

Stage 3 proceedings took place in Plenary on 17
March 2026.

The Senedd agreed on 10 March 2026, under Standing
Order 26.36, that the order of consideration for Stage 3 proceedings would be:
sections 2 – 21, Schedule 1, sections 22 - 25, section 1, and the long title.

Notice
of Amendments – 6 March 2026 (PDF 105KB)

Welsh
Government: Purpose and effect table - 6 March 2026 (PDF 263KB)

Notice
of Amendments – 9 March 2026 (PDF 81KB)

Notice
of Amendments – 10 March 2026 (PDF 212KB)

Marshalled
List of Amendments - 17 March 2026 (PDF 275KB)

Grouping
of Amendments - 17 March 2026 (PDF 94KB)

Senedd
Cymru (Member Accountability and Elections) Bill, as amended at Stage 3
(unchecked) (Amendments to the Bill since the previous version are indicated by
sidelining in the left margin) (PDF 347KB)

Correspondence

Letter
from the Counsel General and Minister for Delivery to the Llywydd regarding
Minister of the Crown consent – 10 March 2026 (PDF 186KB)

zzz

¬¬¬Stage 2 (14 January 2026 – 12 February 2026)

Stage 2 began on 14 January 2026.

Stage 2 proceedings took place in the Member Accountability
Bill Committee on 12
February 2026.

The Member Accountability Bill Committee agreed on 20 January 2026,
under Standing Order 26C.27, that the order of consideration for Stage 2
proceedings would be: sections 2 to 21, Schedules 1 and 2, sections 22 to 25,
section 1, and the long title.

Notice
of Amendments – 3 February 2026 (PDF 105KB)

Welsh
Government: Purpose and effect table - 3 February 2026 (PDF 210KB)

Notice
of Amendments – 5 February 2026 (PDF 289KB)

Marshalled
List of Amendments - 12 February 2026 (PDF 358KB)

Grouping
of Amendments - 12 February 2026 (PDF 94KB)

Senedd
Cymru (Member Accountability and Elections) Bill, as amended at Stage 2
(Amendments to the Bill since the previous version are indicated by sidelining
in the left margin) (PDF 271KB).

Printing
changes to the Bill as amended at Stage 2 (PDF 69KB)

Senedd Cymru
(Member Accountability and Elections) Bill, Explanatory Memorandum revised
following Stage 2 proceedings (PDF 1.5MB)

zzz

¬¬¬Financial Resolution

In accordance with Standing Order 26.68 the Presiding
Officer indicated that a financial resolution was required for the Bill.
Further information about financial resolutions is available in section 3 of
the Guide
to the scrutiny stages for Public Bills.

A debate in Plenary on a motion to approve a financial
resolution in respect of the Bill was scheduled to take place on 13 January 2026. The
motion was tabled but was not moved by the Counsel General during Plenary
proceedings.

A Financial Resolution in relation to the Senedd Cymru
(Member Accountability and Elections) Bill was agreed in Plenary on 10 February 2026. Stage 2
proceedings took place on 12
February 2026.

zzz

¬¬¬Stage 1 (21 October 2025 – 13 January 2026)

A debate in Plenary on a motion to approve the general principles of the Bill took place on 13
January 2026. The motion to agree the general principles of the Bill was
agreed.

The Member Accountability Bill Committee considered its
approach to Stage 1 scrutiny on 21 October 2025.

The Member
Accountability Bill Committee considered the Bill on the following dates:

Oral evidence session: Alexander Greenwood, Criminal Bar
Association and Jonathan Elystan Rees KC, Criminal Bar Association (Public) | Transcript | View
meeting |
| 25
November 2025 | Evidence session with the Parliamentary Commissioner for
Standards, House of Commons and the Pan-Island Commissioner for Standards
(Public) | Transcript | View
meeting |
| 18
November 2025 | Evidence session with the Electoral Commission, Electoral
Management Board, and Association of Electoral Administrators (Public) | Transcript | View
meeting |
| 11
November 2025 | Evidence session with the Chair of the Standards of
Conduct Committee (Public)

Consideration of Approach to Stage 1 Scrutiny (Private)

Technical briefing (Private) | Transcript | View
meeting |
The Member Accountability Bill Committee laid its report on 23
December 2025 (PDF 2.6MB). The Welsh Government responded on 9 January 2026 (PDF 258KB).

The Legislation,
Justice and Constitution Committee considered the Bill on the following
dates:

The Welsh Government responded (PDF 239KB) to the report on 9 January 2026.

The Counsel General and Minister for Delivery wrote again to
the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee on 6
February 2026 (PDF 182KB).

The Finance
Committee considered the Bill on the following dates:

| Date and Agenda | Purpose of meeting | Transcript | Senedd.TV |
| 20
November 2025 | Evidence session with the Counsel General and Minister for
Delivery | Transcript | View
meeting |
The Finance Committee laid its report on 19
December 2025 (PDF 357KB). The Welsh
Government responded to the report on 9 January 2026 (PDF 227KB). The
Senedd Commission responded to the report on 13 January 2026 (PDF 157KB).

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¬¬¬Bill introduced (3 November 2025)

Senedd Cymru
(Member Accountability and Elections) Bill, as introduced (PDF 1.3MB)

Explanatory
Memorandum (PDF 1.3MB)

Presiding
Officer’s Statement - 3 November 2025 (PDF 177KB)

Business
Committee’s Report on the timetable for consideration of the Bill – 4 November
2025 (PDF 75KB).

Statement
of Policy Intent – 3 November 2025 (PDF 418KB)